Karnak: Bio, Origin & History

Real Name: Karnak

First Appearance: Fantastic Four #45 (December, 1965)

Powers: Karnak has the ability to see the weak point in all objects and beings. This means that he can shatter diamonds, disrupt forcefields, knock his enemies over with a single punch, and crack steel. Karnak is also one of the best pure fighters the Inhumans have. Because he was never exposed to the Terrigen Mists, Karnak does not have superhuman attributes. Instead, he is in peak physical condition. 

Affiliation: Royal Family of the Inhumans

Did You Know? Karnak is a member of the Royal Family and brother to Triton.

A Little History

The origin of Karnak is directly tied to the Inhumans so to understand Karnak means that we must first understand the Inhumans. 

During the height of the Kree-Skrull War, the Kree established a stronghold on the planet, Uranus. If Uranus seems like an odd choice for a stronghold, understand that the Kree took Uranus because they thought it to be in the perfect position between the two Empires. Due to the planet‘s proximity to Earth, the Kree took notice of the inhabiting Homo Sapiens. The more the Kree watch the people of Earth, the more they realized that they would be perfect for genetic modification. 

After some experimentation, the Kree were successful in creating a strain of enhanced humans capable of standing up to the Skrulls. Unfortunately, that’s as far as they went. Instead of using the humans in their war, the Kree, after learning the humans might turn a horrible prophecy true, cast them aside. Basically, the prophecy read the humans could bring destruction to their leader, the Supreme Intelligence. 

The race, now dubbed the Inhumans, went on to create a society so advanced that they kept it from the rest of the world.

As a coming-of-age ritual, all members of the Inhumans are to walk through the Terrigen Mists. Once inside the Mists, the inherent power that each possesses is unlocked and they are transformed. Some, like Gorgon, for example, become incredibly strong but have their appearance changed. Others, like Black Bolt, suffer no appearance change but are gifted power that many would die for.

During the first fifty years of the twentieth century, Karnak was born to the Royal House of Agon. He is the second son of Mander and Azur. The first son, Triton, was exposed to the Terrigen Mists when the time came. Sadly, after his exposure, Triton was left unable to breathe outside of water. Fearing the same would happen to Karnak, his parents elected not to expose him to the Mists.

Even though he was not exposed to the Terrigen Mists didn’t mean that his naturals abilities didn’t manifest. During his teenage years, Karnak’s inherent ability to sense weakness in any object or being developed. This, coupled with his impressive fighting abilities earned him the nickname, “The Shatterer.”

Just after his power emerged, Karnak sensed that Attilan (the home of the Inhumans) was in danger. He also realized that the current Monarch had removed the Slave Engine and, in an effort to protect mankind, hid it. Karnak immediately took his news to Black Bolt (the son of the previous King) and together the two challenged the Monarch. This challenge resulted in Black Bolt assuming the Crown and becoming King. 

And that’s it. The origin of Karnak. 

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